Top 10 Rivalries We Can't Wait To See This Spring

Hurdlers Jamar Marshall and Warren Williams should battle all the way to the State Finals. (Eric Taylor photo)

Present, future, or simply projected, here are 10 epic rivalries we can't wait to watch this spring:

1. Liam Anderson vs. Matt Strangio (3200m)

Whenever these two take the line in the same race, it's must-watch track. These two are CA distance royalty and are a treat to behold. Anderson, a senior from Redwood (NC) is the defending 1600m champion on the track who just had a brief but epic XC season, repeating as the State Division III champion and then going on to win the boys title at Nike Cross Nationals. Strangio, a junior from Jesuit (SJ), is the defending 3200m champion on the track who is coming off an XC season where he won the D-I title and placed eighth overall at NXN. The focus here is the 3200, where Anderson finished fifth, looking for the 16-32 double last June. Anderson enters the spring season with the top returning time in the eight-lap challenge, 8:52.74, posted in placing fifth in the national race at Arcadia. Strangio (pictured) has the No. 2 returning time, 8:56.18, his winning time in out-sprinting then-senior Justin Hazel to win at State. Those are the only two sub-9 returners, with Canyon Country Canyon (SS) senior Ethan Danforth ranking third at 9:00.30.

Photo: Matt Strangio at the State Final by Louis Amestoy.

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2. Kristin Fahy vs. Tori Gaitan (3200m)

The top two distance girls in the state this past XC season are also the top two returners from the 3200 final at the State Meet. Fahy, a senior at La Costa Canyon (SD), is coming of a fall season in which she won every significant race she entered through the Foot Locker West Regionals. Her resume also included a third consecutive SDS divisional title, the CIF-State Division II crown, and head-to-head victory over Gaitan at Mt. SAC. Gaitan, a junior at Great Oak (SS) had an equally epic fall, winning elite races throughout her schedule to include Woodbridge, Clovis, Southern Section Division I and State D-I. Plus, she was the top CA finisher (18th overall) at Nike Cross Nationals. Fahy's 10:16.45 for fourth at State last June is CA's top returning time for 3200 (No. 7 returning U.S.). Gaitan's 10:17.13 from the SS Division Finals is No. 2 CA, No. 8 U.S. While those two are the focus, the distances in CA are loaded. Three others from the State 3200 final top 12 return: Meagen Lowe and Corie Smith from Buchanan (CS) and Colleen McCandless from Granada (NC). If healthy and back to form, someone else who is sure to move the needle in this event -- Claudia Lane.

Photo: Kristin Fahy, left, and Tori Gaitan from Mt. SAC by Patrick Corsinita

• Top Returning CA Girls For 3200

3. Cameron Reynolds vs. The Field (400m)

So, maybe we're cheating a little bit, but in the one-lap grinder, Reynolds, the senior from Clayton Valley (NC) is the guy to beat. He was second at State last June, running 47.27, and put up the fastest time among returners, 47.09, in winning at the Diablo Athlete League Finals. That time, by the way, ranks No. 13 U.S. among returners. As for what we're calling The Field, Monterey Trail (SJ) senior Zachary Larrier went 47.12 at Arcadia, the No. 2 returning time in the state. Karson Lippert, who was second at State as a sophomore (running 46.91!!) before injuries hit, still managed a 47.44 lap for third at Arcadia. If healthy, this event may be the La Costa Canyon (SD) senior's to win. Solomon Strader, a junior who ran 47.49 for second at CIF-SS Masters last spring, is now at West Ranch (SS). Two other sub-48 returners to round out The Field: Brayden Borquez (Harvard Westlake/SS/47.76) and Ismail Turner (West Valley/SS/47.97) are two seniors who went 1-2 in the CIF-SS Division 3 Final. 

Photo: Cameron Reynolds anchoring the 4x400 relay at State by Pat Rhames.

• Top Returning CA Boys - 400 meters

4. Jamar Marshall vs. Warren Williams vs. Riley Hunt (110 hurdles)

The front of the boys hurdles, both 110s and 300s, very well could remind us of 2017 when Joseph Anderson, Anthony Easter and Cameron Samuel gave us all a show to remember. Whereas those guys -- plus a couple of others that year -- excelled at both, the expectation for 2019 is that the leaders in each -- 110s and the 300s -- will be separate. The focus here is the 110s where the top returner isn't actually someone who won, medaled or even competed at the 2018 CIF-State Meet. Jamar Marshall, a junior at St. Mary's Stockton (SJ), was DQ'd at the section level. He was ineligible to compete at State where Hunt, now a senior at Simi Valley (SS), took third (14.09) and Williams, a senior at West Merrill (SJ), was fourth (14.20). Marshall put up PRs last year of 13.97 wind legal and 13.68 (2.3) all conditions, both No. 1 among returners in CA. His windy time is No. 3 U.S. It's intriguing that St. Mary's and West Merrill are only about a half-hour apart but, if results from Stanford are any indication, Marshall and Williams are much closer. In the meet last March in Palo Alto, they both ran 14.39 in prelims and 14.24 in the final. What else is intriguing about this trio is that two of them now possess medals from State. The motivation for Marshall must be astronomical while the challenge to hold him off is just as great for Williams and Hunt, and anyone else who steps up to challenge this trio.

Check out these Compare Athlete Reports:

• Marshall vs Williams 
• Marshall vs. Hunt 
• Hunt vs. Williams

5. Deanna Nowling vs. Jazmyne Frost (sprints)

The two fastest girls in CA and two of the fastest in the U.S., Nowling and Frost will be a treat to watch throughout the spring in the 100, 200 and on the anchor of the 4x100. Nowling, a senior at Calabasas (SS), is the defending State Meet champion in the 100 meters. Her time of 11.47 is the No. 1 returning time in CA and No. 7 fastest in the U.S. Frost, a senior at Serra (SS), was second in the 100 at State, running 11.61. Her 11.57 from the State Meet Prelims, ranks No. 2 in CA and No. 13 U.S. In the 200 at State, it was Frost placing third behind two seniors in 23.76 and Nowling next in 24.02. And that's been the trend between these two with Nowling a fraction ahead for 100 meters and Frost a fraction in front over 200 meters. Their head-to-head battle last June at Clovis included the 4x100 where Frost led Serra to victory in 45.69 with Nowling's Calabasas team second in 45.91. And as this battle plays out in 2019, keep in mind that last June, Frost accounted for 30 points as Serra won the team title with 36 to beat Oak Ridge (SJ) and the since-graduated Denner twins by three points. Calabasas was third with 31 points but will undoubtedly be gunning for Serra's State crown this spring.

Photo: Deanna Nowling reacts after winning the 100 meters at State by Kirby Lee/Image of Sport.

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6. Laurel Wong vs. Amari Turner vs. Paige Sommers (Pole Vault)

These three all cleared the top height at the CIF-State Final last June, 12 feet, 6 inches. Wong, now a senior at Santa Catalina (CC), was declared the winner based on fewest attempts. Turner, now a senior at Redondo Union (SS), and Sommers, the nation's top freshman last spring, bring a little extra incentive into this season. Wong is a two-time CA Winter Championships winner and the No. 5 returning vaulter in the country based on her 13-04 PR clearance to win at Golden West Invitational a week after the State Finals. While Turner isn't among the five returning CA vaulters to have cleared 13 feet, she has proven to be both competitive when it matters most and consistent. She had four jumps of 12-06 or better -- including her 12-10 PR to win the Southern Section Division 2 title -- and she's had six other jumps over 12 feet, including a 12-04 for second to Wong at the 2018 Winter Championships. Sommers, from Westlake (SS), had seven jumps of 12-04 or better, including her PR of 13-00.50 to win the Southern Section Division 2 title. The 13-Foot Club is still pretty rarified air in CA, with just over 40 girls as members. Aside from Wong and Sommers, other returners in that elite group are Elizabeth Funk (Clovis West/CS/13-1), Isabella Grant (Presentation/CC/13-0), and Kelley Kern (Carondelet/NC/13-0). Turner undoubtedly is a favorite to be the next girl to join the club, as is Brigette Grau (Mira Costa/SS/12-9). Rivalry applies here as a synonym for competition that is undoubtedly to develop from this talented group of girls, five of whom have already cleared 13 feet with two others over 12-9 and all seven still looking up. 

• Top Returning CA Girls - Pole Vault

7. Jocelynn Budwig vs. Faith Bender (throws)

At whatever back-40, distant lot or far off field they hold the girls throws competition in Central Section meets this season, believe us when we tell you to pack a lunch and make the hike. It will be so worth it!! We confidently say that because of these two extremely talented girls. Budwig is the defending State Meet champion in the shot put. Bender, a sophomore from Bakersfield Liberty (CS), is coming off an eye-popping season for a freshman. Budwig, a senior at Fowler (CS), is the state's top returning thrower in both the shot (47-07/No. 3 U.S.) and the discus (174-02/No. 1 U.S.). Bender is No. 2 CA and No. 3 U.S. with a DT PR of 160-07, and ranks No. 4 CA with a best of 45-02.50 in the shot. At State, Budwig unleashed her epic PR during Friday's prelims -- the 16th longest discus throw in CA history -- but she wasn't able to match it the next afternoon, settling for 161-00 and third place. Bender, whose PR was established at the 2017 USATF JOs, went 158-08 for fifth. She made the final in the shot and placed eighth, 43-05, just her sixth-best throw of the season to that point. Whereas Budwig is the well-established senior, Bender is the youngster looking to unseat the veteran. Again, as a freshman, Bender had 14 meets with throws of 150 feet or farther and three others at 149. As a freshman, Budwig had just one throw exceeding 151 and one at 149.

Photo: Jocelynn Budwig in the discus ring at the State Meet by Jeffrey Parenti.

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8. Daniel Viveros vs. Carlos Aviles (throws)

The two leaders among a strong group of returning throwers, Viveros, a senior from Bakersfield Liberty (CS), holds the edge in the shot put, where he is the returning State Meet champion, while Aviles, a senior from Ventura (SS), has been better in the discus throw. Still, these are the top returning shot put boys in the state. Viveros' 63-10.50 PR from the Central Section Final ranks No. 1 in CA and No. 4 U.S. Aviles' best, 63-05.50 to win at Trabuco Hills, ranks No. 2 CA and No. 5 U.S. In the discus, Aviles' 194-01 from Arcadia is No. 1 CA and No. 7 U.S. Viveros' 184-02 from the Battle at Central Cal is No. 4 CA and No. 19 U.S. As we were reminded at the State Meet last year, the discus throw can be a fickle dance partner. Avilas came in with the top mark in the state and, while both he and Viveros (pictured) reached the Saturday final, both struggled as seniors took the top four spots. In the discus, junior Kyler Van Grouw (Central/CS), and juniors Gino Cruz (Newbury Park/SS) and Christian Johnson (Buchanan/CS) are the other top returners. In the shot, it's Viveros, Avilas and junior Jeff Duensing (Esperanza/SS/runner-up at State) as the only returning 60-foot throwers. 

Photo: Daniel Viveros watches the flight of a shot put attempt at the State Meet by Jeffrey Parenti.

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• Top Returning Boys - Shot Put

9. Kyla Robinson-Hubbard vs. Kenya Payne (300 hurdles)

The top two returning long hurdlers in CA also rank No. 6 (Robinson-Hubbard) and No. 12 (Payne) among returners in the U.S. Last year at the State Meet, Robinson-Hubbard, a senior at Calabasas (SS), placed second (42.07) and Payne, a senior from Long Beach Poly (SS), was fourth (42.30 PR). Robinson-Hubbard put up her PR of 41.82 in winning at the Southern Section Masters.  In six head-to-head races last year, Robinson-Hubbard was the winner each time. The only time Payne won a "head-to-head" meeting, it was at the Divisional Finals when she posted a faster time in a separate race. We may not actually be able to call this a rivalry until Payne crosses the line first head-to-head. But when that happens, you know it's on!

• Top Returning Girls - 300 Hurdles
• Compare Athletes Report

10. Juan Zarate-Sanchez vs. Quinton Alexander (800m)